 To reprove the Corinthians for the practice of going to law before heathen courts - (6:1-7)  The importance of the church making distinctions between righteousness and unrighteousness – (6:8-11)  The sin of fornication is again brought to the forefront to illustrate that the body is to be used for serving God – (6:12-20) 1 Corinthians 6:1-20

1 Corinthians 6:1-20 (NKJV) 1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

1 Corinthians 6:1-20 (NKJV) 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!

1 Corinthians 6:1-20 (NKJV) 7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,

1 Corinthians 6:1-20 (NKJV) 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

1 Corinthians 6:1-20 (NKJV) 13 Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!

1 Corinthians 6:1-20 (NKJV) 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh." 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

1 Corinthians 6:1-20 (NKJV) 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

 “Going to Law”- violating the principle Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount—seeking revenge in court – cf Mat 5:38-42; 18:15-17  Not a strict prohibition forbidding necessary lawsuits – (Mat 19:9)  The Corinthians were going before the “unjust” to settle their personal differences – (Mat. 5:38-42)

 Involved at least four errors: 1.Going to law with one another – (7) 2.Going to law before unbelievers – (1,6) 3.Going to law in pagan courts, which would involve oath-taking in the names of pagan deities and other abhorrent practices (see Matt 5:33-37 & James 5:12). 4.Not following the teaching of our Lord in Matthew 18:15-17

 Judging the world - by righteous lives - When the righteous are vindicated, the world will stand judged - (Heb 11:7; Matt. 12:41-42)  The Point - if we are able to determine righteousness by acting in a way to be saved, and that will be the judgment of the world, can't you help one another figure out these trivial matters?

 Judging the angels - Redemption is not provided for angels (2 Pet 2:4). Again, our decision to submit to God's righteousness stands against them in judgment.  The Point – is the same - if we are able to determine righteousness by acting in a way to be saved, can't you help one another figure out these trivial matters?

 The people in view here were vying for revenge, and thus bringing harm to the reputations of themselves and the church in public.  When brethren are unable to come together as children of God and settle a matter, the church loses.  The contrast of spiritual and worldly wisdom is still in view from the preceding chapters.

 They “unrighteousness” - They were doing wrong – cheating their own brethren.  They were going before the “unrighteous” to settle their disputes - Don't go out into the world to get what you couldn't get, by reason and truth, from your brethren. (James 3:13-18)  The unrighteous will be lost -

 FORNICATORS – Gk, PORNEIA, inclusive of all sexual immorality  IDOLATERS – worship of idol deities  ADULTERERS – those guilty of a more specific sexual sin; unfaithfulness to the marriage vow  EFFEMINATE / ABUSERS OF THEMSELVES WITH MANKIND – homosexuals - The terms here condemn both passive and active partners in homosexual acts. (Lev. 18:22; Rom. 1:27; Jude 7)

 THIEVES / COVETOUS - defrauding one another - with greed, swindling etc.  DRUNKARDS - Those who have given themselves to wine - (Prov 20:1; 23:30,31; 1 Peter 4:3)  REVILERS – coarse, harsh, and bitter words; to abuse others – (tale bearing, whispering, backbiting, attempting to ruin a persons good name. - (1 Peter 2:23)  EXTORTIONERS – those who through pillage, plundering, robbery, extortion, take advantage of others - (2 Pet 2:3; Titus 1:11; Jude 1:11)

1 Corinthians 6:11 (NKJV) 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (cf. Rom. 6:1-23; Col. 3:1-17)

 Can sexual sins, including homosexuality be turned away from?  Can greediness be overcome?  Can alcoholism and drug addictions be overcome?  What about bad attitudes?  You can turn away from unrighteousness and be forgiven!

 They were WASHED (cf - Rev. 1:5; Eph. 5:25-26; Titus 3:5-7; Acts 22:16)  They ere SANCTIFIED (cf. Ephesians 5:25-26)  They were JUSTIFIED (cf. Romans 3:28; 5:1, 9)

 All Things Are Lawful For Me - He clearly shows things that are not lawful in the proceeding passages; thus, it is not a universal rule.  Some things are absolutely ALWAYS WRONG! 6:9,10; Gal. 5:19-21  The failure to do things commanded by God is ALWAYS SIN! - John 8:24; James 4:17; 2 Jn 9

 Paul points out three principles governing us in exercising our liberties -  Is it advantageous to the edification of others - (8:7-13; 10:24-33; Rom 14:15-23)  Is it advantageous to my spiritual life? – (Rom 14:14,23)  Is it enslaving? – (9:27; Col 3:5; 1 Pe 2:11)

 The one committing fornication SINS against his own body!  Fornication is is unique in that there is a one-flesh relationship: a deep emotional, psychological, and physiological connection forged in the sexual act.  The intimacy of the marriage relationship is analogous to the intimacy between a believer and his Lord. “Flee Fornication”! Vv

 The body is the temple of the Holy Ghost – it is not to be used in this way! – It is to be used for service to God!!!!  The Christian is bought with a price (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 1:18-19)  The body is to be used to the glory of God, and not for fornication! “Flee Fornication”! Vv

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV) 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

27 Charts by Don McClain Prepared March 27, 2011 Preached March 27, 2011 West 65 th Street church of Christ P.O. Box Little Rock AR Prepared using PPT 2010 – – More PPT & Audio Sermons: Charts by Don McClain Prepared March 27, 2011 Preached March 27, 2011 West 65 th Street church of Christ P.O. Box Little Rock AR Prepared using PPT 2010 – – More PPT & Audio Sermons: Note – Many of the transition effects used in this presentation are lost using PPT 2007 Viewer To view transitions you can download PPT 2010 viewer: yID=cb9bf eeb Note – Many of the transition effects used in this presentation are lost using PPT 2007 Viewer To view transitions you can download PPT 2010 viewer: yID=cb9bf eeb832823